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Key Takeaways
The Minor Arcana are the 56 suit cards of a tarot deck, divided into four suits—Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Each suit has 14 cards: Ace through Ten plus four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King). Where the Major Arcana mark life’s big lessons, the Minor Arcana describe everyday matters...
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The Minor Arcana are the
56 suit cards of a tarot deck, divided into four suits—
Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Each suit has 14 cards: Ace through Ten plus four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King). Where the
Major Arcana mark life’s big lessons, the Minor Arcana describe everyday matters—work, love, conflict, and money.
A full tarot deck has 78 cards: the 22 Major Arcana and these 56 Minor Arcana. The four suits each map to an element and a theme. Click any card below for its full upright, reversed, love, and career meanings.
Suit of Wands — Fire
The Suit of Wands represents energy, passion, creativity, ambition and action. As the element of Fire, Wands cards speak to how this energy moves through your life.
| Card |
Core Meaning (Upright) |
| Ace of Wands |
Inspiration, new opportunity, a creative spark |
| Two of Wands |
Planning, future vision, making decisions |
| Three of Wands |
Expansion, foresight, progress |
| Four of Wands |
Celebration, harmony, homecoming |
| Five of Wands |
Conflict, competition, tension |
| Six of Wands |
Victory, recognition, public success |
| Seven of Wands |
Defense, perseverance, standing your ground |
| Eight of Wands |
Speed, movement, swift action |
| Nine of Wands |
Resilience, persistence, last stand |
| Ten of Wands |
Burden, responsibility, overload |
| Page of Wands |
Enthusiasm, exploration, free spirit |
| Knight of Wands |
Energy, adventure, impulsiveness |
| Queen of Wands |
Confidence, warmth, determination |
| King of Wands |
Leadership, vision, bold action |
Suit of Cups — Water
The Suit of Cups represents emotions, relationships, intuition and love. As the element of Water, Cups cards speak to how this energy moves through your life.
| Card |
Core Meaning (Upright) |
| Ace of Cups |
New emotions, love, compassion, creativity |
| Two of Cups |
Partnership, mutual attraction, connection |
| Three of Cups |
Celebration, friendship, community |
| Four of Cups |
Apathy, contemplation, reevaluation |
| Five of Cups |
Loss, grief, disappointment, regret |
| Six of Cups |
Nostalgia, childhood, reunion |
| Seven of Cups |
Choices, fantasy, illusion, options |
| Eight of Cups |
Walking away, withdrawal, seeking meaning |
| Nine of Cups |
Contentment, satisfaction, wishes fulfilled |
| Ten of Cups |
Harmony, family, lasting happiness |
| Page of Cups |
Creative messages, intuition, curiosity |
| Knight of Cups |
Romance, charm, following the heart |
| Queen of Cups |
Compassion, emotional security, intuition |
| King of Cups |
Emotional balance, diplomacy, calm |
Suit of Swords — Air
The Suit of Swords represents thoughts, intellect, truth, conflict and communication. As the element of Air, Swords cards speak to how this energy moves through your life.
| Card |
Core Meaning (Upright) |
| Ace of Swords |
Breakthrough, clarity, truth, new ideas |
| Two of Swords |
Difficult decisions, stalemate, indecision |
| Three of Swords |
Heartbreak, sorrow, grief |
| Four of Swords |
Rest, recovery, contemplation |
| Five of Swords |
Conflict, defeat, win at all costs |
| Six of Swords |
Transition, moving on, recovery |
| Seven of Swords |
Deception, strategy, acting alone |
| Eight of Swords |
Restriction, self-imposed limits, feeling trapped |
| Nine of Swords |
Anxiety, worry, fear, nightmares |
| Ten of Swords |
Painful endings, rock bottom, betrayal |
| Page of Swords |
Curiosity, vigilance, new ideas |
| Knight of Swords |
Ambition, drive, fast and direct action |
| Queen of Swords |
Independence, clear judgment, honesty |
| King of Swords |
Authority, intellectual power, truth |
Suit of Pentacles — Earth
The Suit of Pentacles represents money, career, the body, security and the material world. As the element of Earth, Pentacles cards speak to how this energy moves through your life.
| Card |
Core Meaning (Upright) |
| Ace of Pentacles |
New opportunity, prosperity, manifestation |
| Two of Pentacles |
Balance, adaptability, prioritizing |
| Three of Pentacles |
Teamwork, skill, collaboration |
| Four of Pentacles |
Security, control, holding on |
| Five of Pentacles |
Hardship, loss, isolation |
| Six of Pentacles |
Generosity, giving and receiving |
| Seven of Pentacles |
Patience, long-term view, investment |
| Eight of Pentacles |
Mastery, diligence, skill development |
| Nine of Pentacles |
Abundance, self-sufficiency, luxury |
| Ten of Pentacles |
Wealth, legacy, family, inheritance |
| Page of Pentacles |
Ambition, study, a new venture |
| Knight of Pentacles |
Hard work, routine, reliability |
| Queen of Pentacles |
Nurturing, practicality, abundance |
| King of Pentacles |
Wealth, business, leadership, security |
→ Also explore all 22 Major Arcana cards and The Fool’s Journey
🎣 Pull a free card now → Free Tarot Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Minor Arcana in tarot?
The Minor Arcana are the 56 suit cards of a tarot deck, divided into four suits—Wands, Cups, Swords, and Pentacles. Each suit has 14 cards: Ace through Ten, plus four court cards (Page, Knight, Queen, King). They describe the everyday details of life: work, emotions, conflict, and money.
How many Minor Arcana cards are there?
There are 56 Minor Arcana cards: four suits of 14 cards each. Every suit runs Ace through Ten, followed by the Page, Knight, Queen, and King—the four court cards.
What do the four tarot suits mean?
Wands (Fire) cover energy, passion, and creativity; Cups (Water) cover emotions and relationships; Swords (Air) cover thoughts, truth, and conflict; Pentacles (Earth) cover money, work, and the material world.
What are the tarot court cards?
The court cards are the Page, Knight, Queen, and King of each suit—16 in total. They often represent people in your life or aspects of your own personality, ranging from the youthful Page to the mature, authoritative King.
What is the difference between Minor and Major Arcana?
The Minor Arcana (56 cards) describe day-to-day situations through four suits, while the Major Arcana (22 cards) represent major life themes and spiritual lessons. Most readings blend both.
🔢 New: learn the deck by its numbers → Tarot Numerology Guide (numbers 1-10).
🗡 Deep-dive each suit: Suit of Wands · Suit of Cups · Suit of Swords · Suit of Pentacles. See also Reversed Tarot Cards.
🃏 New to tarot? Start with The Rider-Waite Tarot Deck.
